Matsya Purana — Chapter 39
MtP 39.1
यदा वसन्नन्दने कामरूपे संवत्सराणामयुतं शतानाम् किंकारणं कार्तयुगप्रधान हित्वा तद्वै वसुधाम् अन्वपद्यः
yadā vasannandane kāmarūpe saṃvatsarāṇāmayutaṃ śatānām kiṃkāraṇaṃ kārtayugapradhāna hitvā tadvai vasudhām anvapadyaḥ
"When you were dwelling in Nandana, able to take any form you desired, for a hundred times ten thousand years, for what cause, O foremost of the Kṛta age, did you leave that and come down to the earth?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.2
ज्ञातिः सुहृत्स्वजनो यो यथेह क्षीणे वित्ते त्यज्यते मानवैर्हि तथा स्वर्गे क्षीणपुण्यं मनुष्यं त्यजन्ति सद्यः खेचरा देवसंघाः
jñātiḥ suhṛtsvajano yo yatheha kṣīṇe vitte tyajyate mānavairhi tathā svarge kṣīṇapuṇyaṃ manuṣyaṃ tyajanti sadyaḥ khecarā devasaṃghāḥ
"Just as here a kinsman, a friend, one's own people, is abandoned by men when wealth is spent, so in heaven the sky-going hosts of gods at once abandon the man whose merit is spent."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.3
कथं तस्मिन्क्षीणपुण्या भवन्ति संमुह्यते मे ऽत्र मनो ऽतिमात्रम् किंविशिष्टाः कस्य धामोपयान्ति तद्वै ब्रूहि क्षेत्रवित्त्वं मतो मे
kathaṃ tasminkṣīṇapuṇyā bhavanti saṃmuhyate me 'tra mano 'timātram kiṃviśiṣṭāḥ kasya dhāmopayānti tadvai brūhi kṣetravittvaṃ mato me
"How do they come to have their merit spent there? My mind is utterly bewildered about this. What marks them out, whose abode do they go to? Tell me that; you are held by me to be a knower of the field."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.4
इमं भौमं नरकं ते पतन्ति लालप्यमाना नरदेव सर्वे ते कङ्कगोमायुपलाशनार्थं क्षितौ विवृद्धिं बहुधा प्रयान्ति
imaṃ bhaumaṃ narakaṃ te patanti lālapyamānā naradeva sarve te kaṅkagomāyupalāśanārthaṃ kṣitau vivṛddhiṃ bahudhā prayānti
"They all fall, wailing, into this earthly hell, O god among men; on the earth they attain manifold growth, to be food for kaṅka birds and jackals.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.5
तस्मादेवं वर्जनीयं नरेन्द्र दुष्टं लोके गर्हणीयं च कर्म आख्यातं ते पार्थिव सर्वमेतद् भूयश्चेदानीं वद किं ते वदामि
tasmādevaṃ varjanīyaṃ narendra duṣṭaṃ loke garhaṇīyaṃ ca karma ākhyātaṃ te pārthiva sarvametad bhūyaścedānīṃ vada kiṃ te vadāmi
Therefore such a deed, evil and blameworthy in the world, is to be shunned, O lord of men. All this has been declared to you, O king; now speak again — what shall I tell you?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.6
यदा तु तांस् ते वितुदन्ते वयांसि तथा गृध्राः शितिकण्ठाः पतंगाः कथं भवन्ति कथमाभवन्ति त्वत्तो भौमं नरकमहं शृणोमि
yadā tu tāṃs te vitudante vayāṃsi tathā gṛdhrāḥ śitikaṇṭhāḥ pataṃgāḥ kathaṃ bhavanti kathamābhavanti tvatto bhaumaṃ narakamahaṃ śṛṇomi
"But when birds peck at them, and vultures too, and blue-throated ones, and flying insects — how do they come to be, how do they come into existence? From you I am hearing of the earthly hell."
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.7
ऊर्ध्वं देहात्कर्मणो जृम्भमाणाद् व्यक्तं पृथिव्याम् अनुसंचरन्ति इमं भौमं नरकं ते पतन्ति नावेक्षन्ते वर्षपूगाननेकान्
ūrdhvaṃ dehātkarmaṇo jṛmbhamāṇād vyaktaṃ pṛthivyām anusaṃcaranti imaṃ bhaumaṃ narakaṃ te patanti nāvekṣante varṣapūgānanekān
"Upward from the body, as their karma unfolds, they plainly wander about upon the earth; they fall into this earthly hell, and they do not behold (again) the many spans of years.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.8
षष्टिं सहस्राणि पतन्ति व्योम्नि तथाशीतिं चैव तु वत्सराणाम् तान्वै नुदन्ते प्रपतन्तः प्रयातान् भीमा भौमा राक्षसास् तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्राः
ṣaṣṭiṃ sahasrāṇi patanti vyomni tathāśītiṃ caiva tu vatsarāṇām tānvai nudante prapatantaḥ prayātān bhīmā bhaumā rākṣasās tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāḥ
For sixty thousand years they fall through the sky, and for eighty thousand as well; and as they fall and journey on, fierce earth-dwelling rākṣasas with sharp fangs thrust at them.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.9
यदेतांस्ते संपततस्तुदन्ति भीमा भौमा राक्षसास्तीक्ष्णदंष्ट्राः कथं भवन्ति कथमाभवन्ति कथंभूता गर्भभूता भवन्ति
yadetāṃste saṃpatatastudanti bhīmā bhaumā rākṣasāstīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāḥ kathaṃ bhavanti kathamābhavanti kathaṃbhūtā garbhabhūtā bhavanti
"When the fierce earth-dwelling rākṣasas with sharp fangs strike at them as they fall down, how do they come to be, how do they come into existence, in what condition do they become embryos?"
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.10
असृग्रेतः पुष्परसानुयुक्तम् अन्वेति सद्यः पुरुषेण सृष्टम् तव तरया रज आपद्यते च स गर्भभूतः समुपैति तत्र
asṛgretaḥ puṣparasānuyuktam anveti sadyaḥ puruṣeṇa sṛṣṭam tava tarayā raja āpadyate ca sa garbhabhūtaḥ samupaiti tatra
The blood-seed joined with the flower-sap follows at once, emitted by the man; and swiftly it reaches the menstrual blood, and there, having become the embryo, it comes together (into one).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.11
वनस्पतीन् ओषधींश्चाविशन्ति अपो वायुं पृथिवीं चान्तरिक्षम् चतुष्पदं द्विपदं चापि सर्व एवंभूता गर्भभूता भवन्ति
vanaspatīn oṣadhīṃścāviśanti apo vāyuṃ pṛthivīṃ cāntarikṣam catuṣpadaṃ dvipadaṃ cāpi sarva evaṃbhūtā garbhabhūtā bhavanti
They enter trees and herbs, the waters, the wind, the earth and the middle air; the four-footed and also the two-footed — all, having come to be thus, become embryos.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.12
अन्यद्वपुर्विदधातीह गर्भ उताहोस्वित्स्वेन कामेन याति आपद्यमानो नरयोनिमेताम् आचक्ष्व मे संशयात्पृच्छतस्त्वम्
anyadvapurvidadhātīha garbha utāhosvitsvena kāmena yāti āpadyamāno narayonimetām ācakṣva me saṃśayātpṛcchatastvam
Does the embryo here take on another body, or does it go by its own desire, entering upon this human womb? Tell me, who ask you out of doubt.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.13
शरीरदेहादिसमुच्छ्रयं च चक्षुःश्रोत्रे लभते केन संज्ञाम् एतत्सर्वं तात आचक्ष्व पृष्टः क्षेत्रज्ञं त्वां मन्यमाना हि सर्वे
śarīradehādisamucchrayaṃ ca cakṣuḥśrotre labhate kena saṃjñām etatsarvaṃ tāta ācakṣva pṛṣṭaḥ kṣetrajñaṃ tvāṃ manyamānā hi sarve
And the growth of the body, the frame and the rest — by what does it obtain eye and ear and consciousness? Tell me all this, father, being asked, for all consider you a knower of the field (of experience).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.14
वायुः समुत्कर्षति गर्भयोनिम् ऋतौ रेतः पुष्परसानुयुक्तम् स तत्र तन्मात्रकृताधिकारः क्रमेण संवर्धयतीह गर्भम्
vāyuḥ samutkarṣati garbhayonim ṛtau retaḥ puṣparasānuyuktam sa tatra tanmātrakṛtādhikāraḥ krameṇa saṃvardhayatīha garbham
The wind draws up the womb of the embryo; in the fertile season, the seed joined with the flower-sap — that (wind), having its office made there by (the) subtle elements, gradually makes the embryo grow here.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.15
स जायमानो ऽथ गृहीतमात्रः संज्ञामधिष्ठाय ततो मनुष्यः स श्रोत्राभ्यां वेदयतीह शब्दं स वै रूपं पश्यति चक्षुषा च
sa jāyamāno 'tha gṛhītamātraḥ saṃjñāmadhiṣṭhāya tato manuṣyaḥ sa śrotrābhyāṃ vedayatīha śabdaṃ sa vai rūpaṃ paśyati cakṣuṣā ca
Then, being born, as soon as he is grasped (received), the man, taking his stand on consciousness, perceives sound here with his two ears, and sees form with the eye.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.16
घ्राणेन गन्धं जिह्वयाथो रसं च त्वचा स्पर्शं मनसा देवभावम् इत्यष्टकेहोपचितं हि विद्धि महात्मनः प्राणभृतः शरीरे
ghrāṇena gandhaṃ jihvayātho rasaṃ ca tvacā sparśaṃ manasā devabhāvam ityaṣṭakehopacitaṃ hi viddhi mahātmanaḥ prāṇabhṛtaḥ śarīre
Smell with the nose, and taste with the tongue, touch with the skin, the divine state with the mind — know that this eightfold set is what is accumulated here in the body of the great-souled breathing creature.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.17
यः संस्थितः पुरुषो दह्यते वा निखन्यते वापि निकृष्यते वा अभावभूतः स विनाशमेत्य केनात्मानं चेतयते पुरस्तात्
yaḥ saṃsthitaḥ puruṣo dahyate vā nikhanyate vāpi nikṛṣyate vā abhāvabhūtaḥ sa vināśametya kenātmānaṃ cetayate purastāt
When a man who has died is burned, or buried, or dragged away — he, having become non-existent and gone to destruction, by what does he become aware of himself thereafter?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.18
हित्वा सो ऽसून् सुप्तवन्निष्ठितत्वात् पुरोधाय सुकृतं दुष्कृतं च अन्यां योनिं पुण्यपापानुसारां हित्वा देहं भजते राजसिंह
hitvā so 'sūn suptavanniṣṭhitatvāt purodhāya sukṛtaṃ duṣkṛtaṃ ca anyāṃ yoniṃ puṇyapāpānusārāṃ hitvā dehaṃ bhajate rājasiṃha
Abandoning his breaths, since he is fixed (in death) as though asleep, placing before him his good deeds and his bad, he abandons the body and takes to another womb in accord with his merit and demerit, O lion among kings.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.19
पुण्यां योनिं पुण्यकृतो विशन्ति पापां योनिं पापकृतो व्रजन्ति कीटाः पतंगाश्च भवन्ति पापान् न मे विवक्षास्ति महानुभाव
puṇyāṃ yoniṃ puṇyakṛto viśanti pāpāṃ yoniṃ pāpakṛto vrajanti kīṭāḥ pataṃgāśca bhavanti pāpān na me vivakṣāsti mahānubhāva
Doers of merit enter a meritorious womb; doers of evil go to an evil womb; the wicked become worms and moths. I have no wish to say more, O man of great might.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.20
चतुष्पदा द्विपदाः पक्षिणश्च तथाभूता गर्भभूता भवन्ति आख्यातमेतन्निखिलं हि सर्वं भूयस्तु किं पृच्छसि राजसिंह
catuṣpadā dvipadāḥ pakṣiṇaśca tathābhūtā garbhabhūtā bhavanti ākhyātametannikhilaṃ hi sarvaṃ bhūyastu kiṃ pṛcchasi rājasiṃha
Four-footed creatures, two-footed ones and birds — having come to be thus, they become embryos. All this has been told in full; what more do you ask, O lion among kings?
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.21
किं स्वित्कृत्वा लभते तात संज्ञां मर्त्यः श्रेष्ठां तपसा विद्यया वा तन्मे पृष्टः शंस सर्वं यथावच् छुभांल्लोकान् येन गच्छेत्क्रमेण
kiṃ svitkṛtvā labhate tāta saṃjñāṃ martyaḥ śreṣṭhāṃ tapasā vidyayā vā tanme pṛṣṭaḥ śaṃsa sarvaṃ yathāvac chubhāṃllokān yena gacchetkrameṇa
By doing what, father, does a mortal obtain the highest consciousness — by austerity or by knowledge? Being asked, tell me all that as it is, whereby one might in due order reach the auspicious worlds.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.22
तपश्च दानं च शमो दमश्च ह्रीर् आर्जवं सर्वभूतानुकम्पा स्वर्गस्य लोकस्य वदन्ति सन्तो द्वाराणि सप्तैव महान्ति पुंसाम्
tapaśca dānaṃ ca śamo damaśca hrīr ārjavaṃ sarvabhūtānukampā svargasya lokasya vadanti santo dvārāṇi saptaiva mahānti puṃsām
Austerity, giving, calm, self-restraint, modesty, uprightness, compassion for all beings — these the good declare to be the seven great gates of heaven for men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.23
सर्वाणि चैतानि यथोदितानि तपःप्रधानान्यभिमर्षकेण नश्यन्ति मानेन तमो ऽभिभूताः पुंसः सदैवेति वदन्ति सन्तः
sarvāṇi caitāni yathoditāni tapaḥpradhānānyabhimarṣakeṇa naśyanti mānena tamo 'bhibhūtāḥ puṃsaḥ sadaiveti vadanti santaḥ
And all these, as stated, having austerity foremost, are destroyed by pride, which is defiling; men overcome by darkness (are ruined) always — so the good declare.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.24
अधीयानः पण्डितं मन्यमानो यो विद्यया हन्ति यशः परस्य तस्यान्तवन्तः पुरुषस्य लोका न चास्य तद्ब्रह्मफलं ददाति
adhīyānaḥ paṇḍitaṃ manyamāno yo vidyayā hanti yaśaḥ parasya tasyāntavantaḥ puruṣasya lokā na cāsya tadbrahmaphalaṃ dadāti
One who studies, thinking himself learned, who by his learning destroys another's fame — that man's worlds have an end, and that sacred learning does not give him its fruit.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.25
चत्वारि कर्माणि भयंकराणि भयं प्रयच्छन्त्ययथाकृतानि मानाग्निहोत्रमुत मानमौनं मानेनाधीतमुत मानयज्ञः
catvāri karmāṇi bhayaṃkarāṇi bhayaṃ prayacchantyayathākṛtāni mānāgnihotramuta mānamaunaṃ mānenādhītamuta mānayajñaḥ
Four acts are fear-producing and bring fear when not done properly: the fire-offering out of pride, silence out of pride, study out of pride, and sacrifice out of pride.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.26
न मान्यमानो मुदमाददीत न संतापं प्राप्नुयाच्चावमानात् सन्तः सतः पूजयन्तीह लोके नासाधवः साधुबुद्धिं लभन्ते
na mānyamāno mudamādadīta na saṃtāpaṃ prāpnuyāccāvamānāt santaḥ sataḥ pūjayantīha loke nāsādhavaḥ sādhubuddhiṃ labhante
When honoured one should not take up delight, nor should one come to grief at dishonour; the good honour the good here in the world, but the wicked do not attain the mind of the good.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
MtP 39.27
इति दद्यादिति यजेद् इत्यधीयीत मे श्रुतम् इत्येतान्यभयान्याहुस् तान्य् अवर्ज्यानि नित्यशः
iti dadyāditi yajed ityadhīyīta me śrutam ityetānyabhayānyāhus tāny avarjyāni nityaśaḥ
'Thus should one give,' 'thus should one sacrifice,' 'thus should one study,' 'it has been heard by me' — these they call the fearless things, and they are never to be forsaken.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
MtP 39.28
येनाश्रयं वेदयन्ते पुराणं मनीषिणो मानसे मानयुक्तम् तन्निःश्रेयस् तेन संयोगमेत्य परां शान्तिं प्राप्नुयुः प्रेत्य चेह
yenāśrayaṃ vedayante purāṇaṃ manīṣiṇo mānase mānayuktam tanniḥśreyas tena saṃyogametya parāṃ śāntiṃ prāpnuyuḥ pretya ceha
That whereby the wise perceive the ancient refuge, in the mind, joined with pride — that is not the highest good; by union with it (i.e. that refuge) they would attain supreme peace, here and after death.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain